§ 6.11 p.m.
§ LORD DAVIESMy Lords, I beg to ask the first question standing in my name.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government whether it is their intention to recognise the Emperor Haile Selassie as the lawful and rightful ruler of Ethiopia; and whether it is proposed to give him all the aid within our power to overthrow the aggressor and re-occupy the throne of his native land.]
202§ VISCOUNT CALDECOTEMy Lords, as the noble Lord will be aware, His Majesty's Government have let it be known that in view of Italy's act of deliberate aggression in resorting to war against this country, they feel entitled to reserve complete liberty of action in regard to any commitments entered into in the past with the Italian Government relating to North and East African and Mediterranean areas. This declaration covered the de jure recognition finder the Anglo-Italian Agreement of 1938 of Italy's conquest of Abyssinia. Consequently the noble Lord may feel satisfied that His Majesty's Government attach full and proper importance to the points which he raises, but I would ask him, in the public interest, not to press me further at this stage.